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Vegan Disaster Planning (plus food ideas)

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There have been some disasters and emergency situations in the media recently, between the earthquakes in New Zealand and floods in Victoria, Australia, as well as around the world, bushfires in Russia and floods in Pakistan, that have inundated much of that country, and before that earthquake in Haiti, storms in the Gulf coast of America… I thought I would look at the Disaster planning, especially in terms of being vegan.

Having been evacuated twice in recent years during bushfires, this is every day reality, and not build-a-bunker, form-a-militia survivalism, just things to consider during emergencies. Also useful information for road-trips, camping, and electricity black-outs.

And, one more useful (non-vegan) tip, if you are evacuated – take the door keys so you can get back in.

While much of the information covered by the standard “disaster kits” can apply equally to vegans or omnivores, there are some things to consider for vegans, apart from all the information listed in the official guides

– work gloves: especially if for work outside the house, such as clearing fallen trees, or home repairs, suggestions are often for “leather gloves”

– first aid kits: may contain OTC (over the counter) medications and treatments that have been tested on animals or from companies that test on animals

– blankets: may be woolen blankets, prepare with non-wool alternatives

– fishing kits: often a staple of disaster kits are useless in a vegan emergency

– personal care and hygiene products: may contain animal products, be tested on animals, or come from companies that test on animals

– animals: food, water, medication, all animals need a carrier, shelters may not take animals (when moving animals in a vehicle the key points to remember are keep them warm, dark and quiet)

– flash drive, computer back-up: vegans that own blogs or social network sites, be prepared to hand over to someone else, and store your graphics and files that may have taken many years to collect. Include copies of log ins that might be saved on a computer or have auto-log in. Store in a water-proof container.

FOOD KIT
food should also last without refrigeration, be prepared with minimal or no cooking and be portable

2 Comments to “Vegan Disaster Planning (plus food ideas)”

I had similar experience as another reviewer. I have been vegan for a year and a half and after reading this book was able to make some meaningful changes in my diet. I appreciated learning about studies involving vegans. I didn’t realize there were so many of them, even the smaller ones. I am sure with increasing interest in this diet, more studies have been conducted during the last ten years, since this book have been published. And I really hope authors can create a second edition of this book updating public on those studies.

Some might find it difficult to get through the book because of some technical details. In this case, you can concentrate on 6 issues that are of main concern: protein, fat (one chapter each) and parts about calcium, iron, vitamin D and B12. These help avoid the most common pitfalls that many people make by eliminating animal products and leaving their diets largely the same. Authors emphasize the importance of shifting our focus to specific nutrients that require attention. There are plenty of books out there that explain why a vegan diet might be the best choice for the long term health, but none contain such a comprehensive overview of all elements of a healthy plant based diet.

Reading this book will surely take care of any anxiety anyone might have about switching to this diet. By educating its readers about proper nutrition it also helps us answer any questions that family, co-workers, or friends might ask about a particular aspect about our diet.

Overall, it is a very informative book that should be a part of any vegan’s library. It is also useful as a reference since it contains information related to general dietary requirements for people at many different stages of life and some specifics related to a number of vitamins and minerals.

I can’t wait for their Becoming Raw book to come out. Guidance and input of such professionals like Brenda Davis and Vesanto Melina in that area would be only appreciated.